FORD ESCORT RS TURBO ‘SERIES 2’ (1986-1991)
The Ford Escort built itself quite the pedigree in rallying during the ’70s, with the RS1600 and RS1800 being seemingly unstoppable. Keen to continue that lineage into the front-wheel drive Mk3 Escort, Ford produced the motorsport homologation RS Turbo model. The ‘RST’ boasted a turbocharged version of the RS1600i’s 1.6-litre CVH engine and put its 130bhp down to the ground through seven-spoke RS wheels, tucked beneath a wide-arch bodykit. Loud, proud and unapologetically rough and ready, the RS Turbo’s looks and strong performance helped it sell 8600 units, remarkable given that Ford had only intended to produce the homologation-mandated 5000. The RS Turbo might’ve been popular, but its rough ride, laggy boost delivery and slightly wooden handling came in for criticism.
However, given that there was clearly an appetite for a turbocharged Escort, the name lived on
